Minolta DiMAGE X20

Advantages: Lightweight, Stills, Video with sound, Webcam, Email function and flashing lights on the front!
Disadvantages: No case and only 8mb sd card included

...wherever you are. The minolta can be switched on and is ready to photograph almost instantaneously - brilliant for those pictures that would normally be missed while other cameras are still starting up or having settings adjusted. Memory The 8mb secure digital card will hold around 15 photographs at standard size 1600 x 1200 , 18 pictures at 1280 x 960, and 48 pics at 640 x 480. Alternatively, 8mb will hold 19 seconds of video clips at 320 x 240 ...
...any of the above. Videos can record for as long as you have space available on your sd card - not time restricted. It would be worthwhile investing in 128 or 256mb cards if you are interested in recording clips or want to take numerous photographs. Functions Voice tags can be added to your pictures before or after the event. I had fun adding sound effects to some of my pictures before emailing them! There is a comprehensive menu of functions. ... Read review

Advantages: 3x optical zoom, small & light, movie mode, looks cool, self portrait mode
Disadvantages: Small memory card (8mb, almost useless!), battery life

I bought this little beauty after shopping around for far too long, and finally persuading the wife. Although I also own a digital camcorder that takes still images, they are only 640x480, so a better digital camera was required for the imminent arrival of a new family member. Within literally minutes the camera was on and I was taking pictures. No need to read the manual, as the menu is better than most cameras I have used (from manufacturers ...
...very easy, mainly thanks to the lack of buttons on the camera. Less is definately more on the X20! Startup time is excellent, although the cute jingle that plays when you turn the camera on and off will probably get annoying after about 2 minutes. The lens cover slides down from its protective position and pictures can be taking in about 2 seconds. There is no optical viewfinder, but that doesn't feel like a problem. Most digital camera owners ... Read review

Advantages: 3 x optical zoom. Good images. Robust plastic build. Audio and movie options. Runs on useful rechargeable AA batteries.
Disadvantages: No optical viewfinder (no great loss !). Needs a protector on lcd screen. Comes with only 8mb SD card.

...a look at both the Minolta Dimage X20 and the more expensive and fully featured Dimage Xt. (I had the Xt on trial for 2 days and have the X20 for a week. I have had a Fuji MX 1700 and currently have the brilliant Olympus C40 zoom.) Build and Settings The X20 has a robust plastic build and comes with a useful 1.6 lcd screen, audio and movie options, non-protruding 3 x optical zoom, flash and a self portrait mirror on the front. There is no optical ...
...!) and the lcd appears quite effective in most lighting conditions. The unit runs on AA batteries - therefore invest in rechargeables which are useful to have around the house anyway ! There are manual settings for white balance,exposure and flash and a menu system which is fairly easy to navigate. There are not many buttons on the X20 but the right and left menu navigation buttons can be programmed to change flash or exposure or white balance etc ... Read review

Advantages: Very compact, stylish design, easy to use
Disadvantages: Drains batteries, no case, ideally needs extra memory

3 x Optical Zoom 4x Digital zoom I was bought this camera as a present and I was amazed at its quality for a 2 million-pixel camera - the photos are of a great quality. This camera has 3 settings of picture quality, fine, standard and economy. There is little difference between fine and standard but I wouldn’t recommend economy unless you really want to take loads or haven’t expanded on the memory card it comes with (8mb) The zoom is 3 times ...
...impressive as it is an internal optical zoom, bending the light within the camera rather than having to wait for a lens to pop out. The zoom is easily operated through the central navigation button. Digital zoom is just magnifying the picture you have rather than improving the quality up close. Taking the photos can take a little getting used to. By holding the shutter button half way down the camera will beep if the image is in focus, if it isn’t ... Read review

Advantages: small, light, easy to use, excellent quality
Disadvantages: no disadvantages found apart from no case

I cannot reccommend this camera highly enough. This was my first digital camera and at the moment have no intention of ever changing it as there is nothing it doesn't do. It produces excellent quality pictures. The movie feature produces good quality shots and even when transferred to DVD using windows movie maker and other softwarre my DVD movie compilations are excellent. It is small, compact and easy to carry with you at all times, perfect handbag ...
...come with a carry case which I bought separately and it does need a higher memory card 32-64mB as it did only come with 8mB so this should be taken into account especially if you wish to take movie shots. I would reccommend a much higher memory. The zoom function is perfect for closer shots and the quality hasn't let me down. I don't think this is still available new but if you have the offer of a second hand camera it is most definitely worth the ... Read review